Happy Summer!!

Wherever Home is Parked?

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

It was a beautiful day here at Twin Lakes Campground. I got up and did my morning routine, although i have to admit i had to wait for my medication to kick in. I think hubby has given me his crud! Once i got moving first on the list ta do today was strip our bed and wash our bedding. Then i vacuumed the bedroom. Took the dogs on several runs and Roo found the lake today and went right into it and started swimming. It was fun to watch her except she had to have another bath today! I’m exhausted so the rest of the day/night was spent relaxing from all my work today.

I’m giving you a bit more of our day on last Thursday visiting the land of the Cajun’s .. hope you enjoy!

(Lafayette, La Continued)

After leaving Jean Lafitte NPS we head to Vermillion Ville A Cajun/Creole Heritage & Folk life Park.

We went inside the Museum and paid our entrance fee of $10 per person. Explored the gift shop, got our brochure and went out the back to do some exploring.

About 6,000 Acadians were exiled from Port Royal, Grand Pre, and Beaubassin in 1755 to the American Colonies and England (via Virginia). Over 3,000 more were exiled after the fall of Louisbourg in 1758 and sent to France. When the war ended in 1763, the Exile was technically over. Between 1755 and 1785, Acadians migrated to several other locations.

As we entered outside there were several kitty cats and of course you all know how i just love animals. I tried to get them to come to me and pet them, but they were not friendly and wanted no part of me and ran. I managed to capture this one.

First we approached the Water Shed .. what is a Water Shed? I know I was thinking the same thing and wondered what i had gotten myself into ..

But surprisingly it was actually pretty interesting and i learned some stuff .. OK, I know what your thinking .. a dumb blonde actually learning something new .. esp those of you who know this very dingy blonde!

First we did some reading and saw the globe of the Water Planet

The we got to experience the humidity that is in the south .. Oh trust me I know all about the humidity in the south!

Then we came to the Sea of Clouds …

We’ve seen the Tornado machines before and they are really cool. But this one .. was the best of all .. it didn’t have the glass in it and you could put your hands in and feel the heat, the cool and the humidity as they met and formed! I absolutely loved it! Of course it was turned off and our friend Don turned it on for us to see (not sure he was suppose to) but he did .. thanks Don!

Being in the South as much as we have we have heard so much about the great flood of 1927, The Vermillion River over flooded it and banks. So I just had to take a picture of this picture.

Next was the Settling Column .. the mixture of water and soil ..

This was pretty cool, it showed how when you have a Ocean near by and an Earthquake happens they can trigger what is called turbidity currents - Avalanches of sand and sediments slide along the Ocean floor for great distances. Which make soil that becomes the land in which the Acadians built upon.

Diane showing us how it works … Pretty cool huh?

Water takes twist and turns and creates Meanderings.

With water winds and a fleck of dirt or even a rock can change how a stream may run. Once a curve develops in a natural stream or river, erosion causes the curves to grow. As water sweeps around the bend, the faster the moving water on the outside of the curves carves away more soil along the outside bank. Which then becomes a meandering river that changes.

this aquarium had some species that live in this area, but it was pretty nasty, I'm assuming keeping them in their natural environment kind of thing.

They had a restaurant but they were busy getting ready for a big party .. we did sneak a peak inside, (just stuck our head in and out) trying to stay out of their way.

1763 to 1785 … The areas of settlement in this time period were covered in the Exile sections. Most of the Acadians scattered about were assimilated into their surrounding culture. This happened to hundreds of Acadians in the American colonies and France, as well as the small pockets of Acadians who found themselves elsewhere. In Canada, some blended into French Canada.

MIGRATIONS AND RETURN by Claude Picard

The Acadian identity managed to survive in several areas of the Maritimes in Canada. Even though they have intermarried with other nationalities, there are still a large number of people who consider themselves Acadian (or of Acadian heritage). The resettlement and development of Acadians in Canada is covered at Canadian Acadians. Another Acadian location is the Madawaska area in New Brunswick and Maine.

The Acadian identity also survived in Louisiana, where the people became known as Cajuns. About 1500 Acadians made their way from the American colonies and Nova Scotia to Louisiana in the 1760s (after the war was over). Also, about 1600 Acadians who were in France sailed to Louisiana in 1785. The passenger lists of the 7 ships that made that trip are located at this website. The Acadians in Louisiana, who became known as Cajuns, became the dominant culture in an area of south Louisiana still known as Acadiana.

It’s a really beautiful place and i bet in the summer time with everything green it’s breath taking.

Though some Acadians remained at their original exile destinations, there was a good bit of movement from 1763-1785. They were trying to find a place where they could be with family and friends and could obtain good farmland.

Except for miscellaneous movements, the period of Acadian migration was over. As the years went by, some Acadians moved to and from ... especially involving Canada, the Northeast U.S., Louisiana, and France. The Acadians, who exhibited a propensity to staying put, continued to stay put when they found a place where they could make a home for their family. Some still moved, trying to find family and friends. With the 20th century came a chance in philosophy. Jobs move, people relocate often, and the Acadians now find their numbers scattered around the world.

Many Acadians migrated to French Canada before and after the Exile. Some returned to the original land of Acadia, though they were not able to obtain their good farmlands. Acadian descendants, though scattered across Canada.

Many Acadians settled down in French Canada, just west of Acadia (now Nova Scotia), and were assimilated into the French-Canadian culture. When the war ended in 1763, some tried to return to their homeland, only to find that it had been given to someone else. Those Acadians who moved to larger towns, like Quebec and Montreal, merged into their surrounding culture. Some Acadia communities remained in New Brunswick and still exhibit the Acadian culture today. Areas settled by Acadians in those early days, that still bear links to the Acadian culture, can be found in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. The greatest numbers are in the province of New Brunswick.

The area of Louisiana, now known as Acadiana, comprised about 22 parishes. It forms a triangle from Lake Charles at the west to Grand Isle at the east, with Pointe Coupee at the apex. The Acadians were the largest group to settle in this area from 1765 to 1785. Although other nationalities were there, the Acadian culture was dominant in many places. When bits and pieces of these other cultures were added to the Acadians, a variation of the Acadian culture was created. These people, and this culture, became known as Cajun ... a derivation of the word Acadian.

Pre – 1764 Louisiana … Louisiana been inhabited by Europeans since the beginning of the 18th century. But up until the time of the Acadian settlement, most of the population consisted of the military and people looking to make money off of the territory. The only real attempt at placing settlers was the group of Germans on the Mississippi River above New Orleans (the German Coast). Most of the population was made up of French and French-Canadians. Though they didn't know it when the first Acadians headed for Louisiana, they would be arriving in Spanish territory.

The First Acadians in New Acadia: 1764-1784 ..Once the Treaty of Parish was completed, Acadians were on the move. Those in the American colonies and held at Nova Scotia made their way to Louisiana, with most of those who came arriving in 1765 to 1768. They settled in the west (Attakapas/Opelousas) of the Atchafalaya and along the Mississippi River (Acadian Coast).

the path to walk along the Historic Village

The Seven Ships of 1785 … The largest single group of immigrants in 18th century Louisiana came in 1785, when Spain paid to carry about 1600 Acadians from France to Louisiana. Most of this group settled along Bayou Lafourche.

The Acadians become established in Louisiana: 1786-1800 … After 1785, the Acadian migration to Louisiana was essentially over. They set about to adapt to their new surroundings. Taking what they knew, and mixing it with their new climate and ideas from their neighbors, they were able to fit in and succeed in their new environment.

This top photo is what they built their walls out of .. the bottom picture shows the results when finished

An old time sewing machine that still works today. An apron was being made.

Tommy posing with a true Cajun who gave us lot’s of history, she even told us what some people call them “coon asses” We laughed and that term is not used much these days, except in Mississippi, where i first heard that.

Other nationalities in Louisiana .. The Acadians, though the major population in south-central Louisiana for some time, found themselves surrounded by other nationalities. The blending of elements of these other cultures eventually formed the Cajun culture.

beautiful blooming flowers and i love the Spanish moss in the trees.

Just after the turn of the century, Louisiana became the property of the United States. This brought in a new wave of settlers ... English, Irish, Italian, etc. Some of their customs were adopted by the Acadians, who became known as Cajuns. But there were no mass migrations ... the territory wasn't fought over every few years. The Acadians had settled into their new home. Cajuns, especially in rural areas, didn't really change very much over the course of the century; but they did adapt to and assimilate parts of their surroundings.

The 19th century saw the lifestyle of most Acadians slowly develop. Some ended the century in much the same way as their grandparents entered it. But some, especially those who developed larger farms and ranches and those who lived in the cities, changed more rapidly. At the beginning of the century, just about every Acadian spoke French, worked with livestock and/or crops, and were Catholic. At the end of the century, it may be that most Acadians (now primarily called Cajuns), still maintained those 3 ways of life. But others may have become Protestant, would speak English in their business and perhaps in the home, and worked in a variety of occupations.

No drastic changes occurred in the lifestyle of the average Acadian. As new materials, methods, and ideas came to society, the Acadians adopted some. For example, though the basic house style stayed the same, corrugated tin roofs replaced wooden shingles. As new fishing techniques came into the area, the Acadians started using them.

Can you imagine having to cook like this all the time? Even on the rainy days? Makes me appreciate my modern day convinces of cooking.

U.S. Territory …Their time in Acadia had been marked by numerous changes of ownership. Since they had been in Louisiana, Spain had maintained a steady control ... giving them the stability they had in Acadia once England gained control in 1713. But in 1803, the Louisiana territory was bought by the United States. This would mark the final time that their ruling authorities would change.

President Jefferson had sent representatives to Napoleon to ask about purchasing the Isle of Orleans, so that the U.S. would have unfettered access to send ships up and down the Mississippi River. Napoleon had viewed Louisiana as a source for goods to support Santo Domingo. With the rebellion and loss of control on that island, his need for Louisiana diminished. The entire territory was offered to the U.S. Though not approved by Congress, the deal was too good to pass up and the representatives made the deal. The territory became U.S. property for $15,000,000. In a matter of weeks, Spain transferred it to France, who in turn completed the deal with the U.S.

Housing made from sugar cane and only a dirt floor. Ekkkk !!

The "Second Expulsion" ? … This opened up Louisiana to American settlers (of various nationalities). They didn't wait for Louisiana to become a state (in 1812). They moved in and acquired typical pieces of land. Gradually, they made their way across Louisiana. Many of them came to make money. Since the Acadians had taken all of the land fronting the Mississippi River, the new settlers often had to start out on the swampy or wooded back land. But they soon began buying out their neighbors (often Acadians) to increase their holdings. Since the Mississippi River area was the most accessible, it was the first area inhabited by the new settlers.

In one area, they were the primary settlers. The lower Teche (present-day St. Mary Parish) was midway between Attakapas and Bayou Lafourche, so the Acadians hadn't settled the area yet. The first few decades of the century saw that area develop as American plantation land. Only after the Acadian populations grew throughout the 19th century did Acadians start to move into that area.

Some (ie. Rushton, Cajuns) have said that the movement of Acadians in the first few decades of the 19th century was a "second expulsion." This would be a misnomer. No one forced the movement. The the decision to move was made by the Acadians, who profited from it. By selling their land, Acadians could obtain a good bit of money. The riverfront property was the most fertile for growing and brought a good price. The Acadians hated debt, and this was a way to pay off their creditors and have some left over. They could then move on to settle another area (for free). All it cost them was their labor to build another home. In some cases the buyers may have given them more than the land was worth. The idea of successful small-scale living may have been seen as a bad example for the slaves to see and the plantation owners wanted to get rid of their Acadian neighbors.

H. M. Brackenridge wrote in 1814 (Views of Louisiana) that "lands have risen in price, since they have grown in demand for sugar plantations, and many of the petit habitants bought out." Large sugar cane plantations were spreading out along the Mississippi River. This also brought a dramatic rise in the slave population of Louisiana. In the first quarter century, the number of slaves increased several times over.

Slavery …The average Acadian usually never grew enough crops or raised enough livestock to grow rich. They also continued to grow vegetables for their own consumption. Their crops/livestock would be sold to provide for those items they couldn't grow, raise, or make themselves. Though the average Acadian still had a small farm/ranch, most Acadian families followed the example of their neighbors and acquired from 1 to 3 slaves between 1790 and 1810. (The Founding of New Acadia, Brasseaux,)

This varied from region to region. Some historians have written that the Acadians rarely owned slaves. In some cases that was true. But in some cases, wealthier Acadians acquired dozens of slaves. It is difficult for some to see why Acadians, who had been oppressed by the English in their past, would do the same thing to another culture. But they were following the common culture of the area.

By and large, the east and west sides of Acadiana didn't mix. The century saw a difference in eastern and western Acadiana (the south central area of Louisiana most populated by Acadians) develop more clearly. As previously discussed, in the western part ... west of the Atchafalaya many Acadians raised livestock. The first Acadians at Attakapas had been from the Beaubassin area and were accustomed to such activity. To the western part of this area, Acadiana had the pasture land to accommodate herds of cattle. Rice became a more common crop than cotton. In the eastern part, around Attakapas/Opelousas, corn and cotton was more common.

We saw this huge Moth! Although i though it was cute

Eastern Acadiana consisted more of strips of good land lining the rivers and bayous. Cotton and corn were the major crops, though sugar cane soon became a major crop. In the east there were really two areas. The settlers along the Mississippi River (the Acadian Coast and upriver) were farmers. Some withstood the temptation of selling their lands and remained along the River. Many who succeeded enlarged their holdings. But smaller farmers (petits habitants) were often bought out and moved elsewhere (see above text). In the first half of the century, much of the movement from the Mississippi River and upper Bayou Lafourche was south, to lower Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes.

These Acadians can be called the bayou or wetlands Acadians. They often lived along the bayous. Some moved into the swamps in lower Lafourche and Terrebonne and in the Atchafalaya Basin. They'd often live on the natural levees (brulees). They still farmed to some degree, depending upon how much dry land they had available. For some, raising crops was abandoned entirely. For some, whose swamp homes were regularly flooded, they began living on houseboats. This innovation made its way into the area in the late 1800s.

Most of these Acadians would hunt and fish ... perhaps catch a few crawfish. But some turned this into their occupation. Trapping, something their ancestors had seen in old Acadia, became the occupation for some. In the latter half of the 19th century, oysters became big business, as did the lumber industry.

Acadian –> Cajun ….So how did the Acadians turn into Cajuns. It's more than just the alteration of a nomenclature. That's simple to understand. The Acadians may have sometimes called themselves Cadiens. Also, in the French pronunciation, the first syllable "a-" is sometimes softly spoken. The "di" may have sounded like a "j". To the English-speaking settlers, the name was heard as Cajuns. It had become commonplace within the first few decades. It was not used by the Acadians themselves, but by the English in referring to them. The name also took on a certain connotation.

To the English, the simple carefree lifestyle that the Acadians were comfortable with was viewed as lazy and culturally inferior. To be called a Cajun was an insult to them. Some Acadians also took that point of view. As one write of the 19th century wrote, "we must not call them ‘Cajuns to their faces lest they be offended, that the term is taken as one of reproach." [Julien Ralph, Harpers' Monthly, Nov. 1893] As an Acadian became successful, he often shed himself of aspects of the Acadian culture. More than a few wealthy Acadians tended to pass themselves off as Creole.

The culture of the Acadians was also changing. The Acadians had learned to adapt to the new land. They grew different crops, made clothes of different materials, built their homes in a different style, and so on. Along with these changes, they adopted other elements of neighboring cultures. In many areas, they were the dominant culture. When marriages between Acadians and other nationalities occurred, the family often remained mostly Acadian in nature. English, Spanish, and German spouses would soon be speaking Cajun French, cooking gumbo, and attending Cajun dances..

The same thing happened with other aspects of the cultures. Various pieces of other cultures were assimilated into the Acadian culture. The combination of Acadian culture and bits & pieces of other cultures resulted in the Cajun culture we speak of in the 20th century. One example is the accordian, considered a staple of Cajun music; it came from the Germans. Another is okra gumbo, which actually came from Africa by way of the West Indies.

Don and I posing under the trees with all the moss and the Bayou behind us.

Cajun French … For the most part, Acadians spoke French. It was the French their ancestors brought with them to Acadia in the 17th century. Over time, words from other languages were incorporated. The language was primarily learned in the home. It is true that most Acadians didn't receive 12 full years of schooling. When they did, they might find a school that taught in French. The 1879 and 1898 state constitution provided "that the French language may be taught in those parishes or localities where the French language predominates, if no additional expense is incurred thereby." It is probable that some, if not most, Acadians learned some English so that they could have some understanding of business dealings. Since the U.S. became a state, official documents were prepared in English. Still, French was commonplace in many parts of Acadiana. French newspapers existed throughout the century.

Acadians: Rich and Poor…It is a safe assumption to say that the average Acadian was on the lower end of the economic scale. Their handmade homes were as simple as they had been in Acadia. They worked enough to provide for their families, but didn't go out of their way to accumulate wealth. Illiteracy was common. But some Acadians were able to became wealthy, usually in one of two ways. Some worked harder at increasing the size of their farm/ranch. They abandoned the traditional non-materialistic view of the Acadians and sought to become well-to-do like some of their Creole neighbors. The other method was to marry into wealth. A number of Acadians married outside of their culture, often to wealthy Creoles, and entered a different class of society. Some of these wealthier Acadians tried to distance themselves from their former culture, which was viewed as inferior. They built fine homes, acquired "store-bought" furnishings, and dressed in manufactured clothing.

Some people have tried to say that Acadians were very successful in 19th century Louisiana, and that we shouldn't be view them as just simple, lazy, poor, and illiterate. While it is true that some became successful, it is a fact that most Acadians did maintain a simple and easy-going lifestyle. But that was the way they wanted it. Is that so wrong?

Many people today, stressed out with the complexities of modern life, say how they need to simplify their lives and take it easy. They talk about the need to spend more quality time with family and friends. They are describing the attitude of the 19th century Acadian ... live easy and enjoy the people around you. In some ways, the laid back attitude of those Acadians may have been superior to our materialistic, over-stressed attitude of today ... don't you think?

she was making thread out of cotton

then they are rolled up into yarn balls

where they are used to make several things

a more modern day home

It was beautiful to just walk the path of this village and see the beauty of the area.

Wars …Though the Acadians had steadfastly resisted fighting in Acadia, when the War of 1812, many Acadians took part in protecting their new homeland. The same goes for the Civil War. But they didn't rush out to join the conflicts. As in Acadia, the Acadians wanted to stay out of the fighting. Still, many Acadians fought and many were injured or died in the Wars of the 19th century. Some Acadians went on to become high ranking officers.

The Century Draws to a Close … As previously mentioned, many Acadians ended the century just as their grandfathers had began it. Some changes were made, but the average Acadian still lived on a little farm/ranch in a handmade house. He worked just hard enough to provide for his family. In the 1890s, William H. Perrin wrote (in Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical) that the Acadians were still as primitive as they had been in old Acadia. Certainly there were exceptions. Acadians became politicians, military officers, rich merchants, etc. But the average Acadian was still living much like he would have in old Acadia.

The 20th century saw the Cajun culture experience its greatest losses. People who had lived the same way for generation after generation were now becoming more like the rest of the country. They began to lose their language, take on different careers, and move away from their New Acadia. What caused this change? General changes such as ease of travel, more variety in job opportunities, and more communications had an impact. Besides the general changes that occurred with the coming of modern times, there were probably 3 major factors causing the change in Cajun culture: education, war, and industry.

One of the major changes in the Cajun culture came in 1921. One of the major factors bonding the Cajuns together was their common French language. The idea that everyone should espouse American middle-class values brought reform to Louisiana at the beginning of the 20th century. The movement was let by people such as Progressive Luther Hall, elected governor in 1912. In July of that year, the legistlature passed an act allowing the Dept. of Education the power to select all books and curricula for public schools. Starting the next year, English was stressed throughout the curricula, basically banning French from the schools. In 1916, the state legislature approved Act 27, which required that all children attend public school.

Then in 1921, the Louisiana Constitution was changed so that all school proceedings had to be conducted in English. This led to many Cajuns growing up without learning their ancestral languages. As they moved into a society that was more mixed, French was used less and less. If you are trapping down the bayou, and the only people you meet are family and friends, French would do just fine. But when you went to the city, went out of town for college, other jobs, and military service, French was rarely used. Not only did this mean that they could interact with outsiders more, it meant that they were less separated. They weren't isolated from the English-speaking American society any more.

Now this does not mean that the Cajun French language disappeared. Most of the parents of children in school for the first few decades of the century had grown up speaking French and still spoke it in the home. So children would learn English at school, but still learned some French in the home. But as that English-educated generation grew up and had their own families, the use of French in the home became minimal in most cases. Still, especially in more rural areas, some Cajun families continued to pass along the Cajun French language throughout the 20th century. It wasn't until half a century later that movement was made to renew interest in their Cajun French language. The establishment of CODOFIL in 1968 has helped to bring interest in the French language back to the educational system.

The school house was one of my favorites .. i just love this black board, click on the picture to see it .. I also enjoyed the flags.

the home made Christmas decorations made from their yards

the stockings are hung with care, awaiting for St. Nick

Acadians hadn't really had to travel to participate in the U.S. conflicts of the 1800s. But the 20th century wars changed that. The World Wars, and the Asian wars saw Acadians moved to other parts of the country and the world. It exposed them to different cultures. They became more "worldly." Due to the military, some settled in other areas. In some cases, it brought outsiders into the area. Houma, for example, had a blimp base with military stationed there.

Perhaps the most direct impact on Cajuns was the influence of industry. By far, the biggest industry has been the oil and gas business. The presence of gas had been known for years. It would occasionally escape through the ground in the swamps. In 1812, an entire island caught fire and escaping natural gas burned for 3 months. In 1823, engineers drilling for water in Pointe Coupee Parish kept hitting natural gas instead. At that time, it was just an annoyance.

The 20th century brought oil and gas exploration and refinement to Louisiana. Oil derricks started appearing throughout the state, especially in the Acadiana area. Some Acadians became wealthy off of the royalties that oil and gas brought in. But most Cajuns' relationship with the industry was that as an employeee. Thousands of Cajuns became oil and gas field workers. Many other worked in associated industry. A side effect of the industry is that it brought more outsiders into Cajun country. In some cases, this led to intermarriages. It also led to a greater dependence on speaking English, since the employers spoke English. The high wages also allowed Cajuns to experience a better lifestyle.

Another industry that has deep Cajun roots is seafood. The harvesting of oysters, shrimp, crawfish, fish, and crabs as an occupation had begun in the 1800s. As new devices were developed, the Cajuns became more proficient at making a living at it. They are responsible, in part, for making Louisiana one of the leading seafood-producing states in the country.

the top picture was the black smith shop .. look at this hand carved rocky horse .. what talent!

This gentleman was carving docks and secret compartment boxes, they were beautiful

A nice quilt on the bed

once indoor convinces come about the kitchen was built off of the house.

For different reasons, one was safety of fires and the second was to keep from heating the house up from all the cooking.

you can see in the bottom picture the house was attached by a hall way.

fire places to stay warm with .. because even though they do not have lots of cold, when it gets cold here it’s very cold fro m the humidity. It goes straight to your bones!

lamp pole that lights up the path way at night

they are able to crow certain crops here year round

they love their hot peppers here in Cajun country

As mentioned above, there were other factors that Americanized the Cajun culture. Ease of travel made it easier for them to visit other areas. It also made it easier to move elsewhere. Job opportunities elsewhere dispersed Cajuns around the world. It also led to Cajuns working with people outside the Cajun culture on a regular basis. Communications such as radio and TV brought the world into Acadiana. Many Cajun families today look and act just like you average American family.

Still, you find elements of the Cajun culture in many households. In some, it's as simple as a style of cooking. In others, you find Cajuns living much as they did generations ago ... harvesting natural resources and speaking French while attending the local Catholic church.

I loved this old church, Acadians and Cajun’s are Catholic

big beautiful fern .. the bottom picture i’m out back posing in front of the fern and church

The last quarter of the 20th century has seen a turn-around in the idea of being Cajun. Cajun music is bigger than ever. Swamp tours in Acadiana have become a major tourist destination. But the biggest piece of Cajun culture to impact the "outside world" has been in the area of food and food preparation. Cajun food and restaurants can be found around the nation. You can even find frozen Cajun meals in supermarkets.

I was checking out this Ferry before i ventured onto it for a ride across the bayou

Caption Tommy giving us a ride across the Bayou .. it was steered by a rope!!!!

Tommy making hubby crake up

Captain Tommy and Shipmate Don at the whelm guiding us across

lots of sugar cane

more modern day homes

these people had money for those days to own

look at this fancy bed!

see the wall behind the bed

Oh my we found the outhouse, privy, or what ever you may call them

it was a 3 holer .. and i made the mistake of telling Tommy i couldn’t imagine doing my business with someone so close to me and as you can see what happened!!

Click on the picture and see Tommy’s face .. he was making noises and really straining and i was laughing at him. I’d sure have a hard time of using one of these things esp with someone like Tommy next to me .. I’m telling you this man get’s me in all kinds of trouble whenever we are together! Thanks Tommy and his lovely wife Diane who was laughing and had a hard time getting the picture.

The tool shed

The last modern day house and the end of the tour was this fine piece of a home.

I love the baby bed, just precious

now this is my kind of indoor plumbing and how i was raised. I’m so thankful this is the luxury of life i was born and raised with

The washer we had when growing up wasn’t made out of barrel but similar to this.

Tommy is like me, he just has to see how things work :)

If you would like to read more about the Cajun Life & Culture which i hope you have enjoyed my journey of learning about this lifestyle and culture as much i did .. here is a link .. just click on it and you can clink on other links to give you more history.

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About Me

Embracing God's grace through life struggles and challenges. I've struggled with health issues for 20 years and i'm determined to stand strong on my faith, trust and belief in Jesus Christ. I enjoy any time i am able to spend in my home on wheels with my 4 fur babies, the great outdoors and my passion is to strive to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ even while being disabled.